A range of business tools and guidance for supporting and running successful high quality early years childcare.
The Employment Allowance (EA) was introduced in 2014 to support employers and encourage employment. It works by allowing eligible businesses to reduce their employer National Insurance contributions (NICs) liability. For more information on eligibility and how to claim please see https://www.gov.uk/claim-employment-allowance
Employment Allowance is being increased to protect businesses by providing relief of up to £10,500 per annum on their employer Class 1 NICs liabilities from 6 April 2025. Early Years and Childcare Providers are entitled to claim the Employment Allowance if they are private businesses or charities, and it is expected the vast majority will be eligible to do so.
Download the guidance to childcare providers on the relief available and eligibility rules.
The Early Years, Childcare & Business Development Service (EYCBDS) provides a core offer of support to Ofsted registered settings with concerns that have been identified by Ofsted, Enforcement notice, LADO & LA MAGEYs.
A TAS Meeting is organised by TAS Lead to address the areas of actions or concerns. Settings are advised to read the TAS Process guidance for more information. The Focus Improvement Plan (FIP) to be completed as part of the TAS process can be downloaded below.
Download guidance documents below:
Feedback from the TAS process
‘We're thrilled with our recent Ofsted report and incredibly proud of our team's hard work. Also, a big thank you for all of your support and helping us shape us into thriving and nurturing environment today. Your guidance, advice, and assistance has helped us throughout our journey on achieving that Good rating’.
Childcare Provider -from Requires Improvement (RI) to Good
‘Thank you for supporting the team through the journey from our RI inspection outcome as it was not what we had hoped for and expected.
Childcare Provider -from Requires Improvement (RI) to Good
‘A very big 'thank you' for all the support given to us by your team. It is highly appreciated’.
Childcare Provider
The MAGEY group has been set up to provide support and review processes to ensure Ofsted registered provisions in Waltham Forest are of a high quality, inclusive and safe and prepare children for their next stage in learning or school.
Policies and procedures help and guide all staff working in an Early Years & Childcare setting. They ensure and endorse the well-being of all families, children, staff, volunteers and everyone who is connected to the setting. When policies and procedures are well thought out and, most importantly, implemented they provide common understanding and agreement on how things should be done at the setting.
Waltham Forest Early Years & Childcare team have developed a range of policy and procedure prompt documents to support in delivering high quality childcare.
Ofsted registered childcare providers can promote their provision to parents/carers through the childcare directory on the Early Years Provider Portal.
Sign in to advertise your childcare business.
All early years and childcare provision should be viewed as a business. Achieving and delivering a consistent high quality of childcare in the long term is impossible without sound business planning and management. The guidance is for maintained schools and academies considering lowering their age range to admit nursery children or establishing early years provision. It also includes information on where to find relevant statutory requirements, the processes you will need to follow, and funding available for childcare expansion
Maintained Schools and Academies
In the Spring Budget of March 2023, the government announced a series of childcare expansion reforms designed to support eligible working families to access childcare and all parents/carers of primary school-aged children to access term time childcare in their local area from 8am-6pm. The DfE have released funding to support these reforms.
This application and guidance is for early years, childcare and wraparound providers to be able to access the childcare expansion grant.
School-Based Nursery Capital Grant
The School-Based Nursery Capital Grant is a one-time grant available from the DfE for eligible state-funded primary-phase schools. Schools can bid for up to £150,000 of funding to use solely for capital expenditure, to convert surplus space within a school building so that it is suitable for nursery provision. For more information on how to apply, please read the guidance available at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/school-based-nursery-capital-grant.
Applications for grant funding are open to state-funded primary-phase schools in England who already offer some early education, such as a reception class. Projects must use surplus space in the school building (including at primary-phase satellite sites). Maintained nursery schools and special schools cannot apply for this grant because they do not have spare space created by declining primary school rolls.
Application for Autumn 2024 will run from 17 October 2024 until 19 December 2024. All applications for this period must be submitted, including all supporting documents, via the online application service by midday on 19 December 2024.
Applicants will be notified of outcome, grant letters issued to successful bidders and project initiation in Spring term 2025. Places created should aim to be operational in the 2025 to 2026 academic year.
If you are interested in opening a school-based nursery in the future but you are unable or ineligible to apply in this round, you can register your interest online
Breakfast clubs early adopters scheme
The Department of Education is inviting schools to apply to the breakfast clubs early adopter programme. Breakfast clubs give children a supportive start to the day, which supports children’s attendance and attainment, enabling them to thrive academically and socially. Schools with primary-school aged children can now apply to become an early adopter of the universal free breakfast clubs scheme.
From April 2025, up to 750 participating state funded schools will be funded until March 2026 to provide access to a free, universal breakfast club lasting at least 30 minutes that includes free food and childcare. This will be part of a test and learn phase in advance of national rollout. The application form will close on Friday 20 December 2024. Applications will not be accepted after this point. The DfE will contact applicants in January 2025 to confirm whether the expression of interest has been successful, at which point will be invited to confirm acceptance.
Further information on the early adopters can be found at Breakfast clubs early adopters scheme - GOV.UK.
Childcare works Hub for Early Years and Wraparound Childcare Providers
Access resources to support you in expanding your early years and wraparound childcare:
Toolkits for Childcare Providers
The Childcare Works toolkits bring together everything you need to grow, sustain and start childcare provision. With content curated by experts, you will find a wealth of useful and relevant information, all in one place.
The toolkits contain information specific to operating childcare provision, plus general information for businesses, childminders and charities, including expert marketing, HR and leadership and management, partnership working and more.
Content is organised into six ‘topics’ with each topic divided into sub-topics:
Access the Wraparound Toolkit - Wraparound Childcare Toolkit | from Childcare Works
Access the Early Years Toolkit - Early Years Toolkit | from Childcare Works
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